Levitra

What Is Levitra (Vardenafil)?

Levitra is the brand name for vardenafil, an oral medication used to treat men who have sexual impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction or ED.

It's part of a group of drugs known as phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. PDE5 inhibitors work by preventing an enzyme, PDE5, from working too rapidly in certain areas of the body, including the penis.

Levitra increases venous congestion in that area and helps a man get and keep an erection during sexual intercourse. By itself, Levitra does not cause an erection - there must also be physical stimulation of the penis to achieve an erection.

Levitra comes in two forms - a tablet or a disintegrating tablet (dissolves in the mouth, taken without water).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Levitra in 2003. It is made by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and is distributed by GlaxoSmithKline.

Levitra Warnings

In 2007, the FDA issued safety information about Levitra and other ED medicines, warning of possible sudden hearing loss in some men.

The information was issued after a case report in medical literature that described a man having sudden hearing loss after taking Viagra (sildenafil).

While no direct cause and effect was demonstrated, the FDA said that the link found between the ED drug use and hearing loss in the case report and other reports warranted a change in the label to reflect the potential problem.

If your erection is painful or continues beyond four hours as a result of taking Levitra, you should contact your doctor right away.

A prolonged erection could cause serious and permanent injury to your penis.

Pregnancy and Levitra

Levitra is only for use in men. Women should never take it, especially if they are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Levitra (Vardenafil) Side Effects

Common Side Effects of Levitra

Some side effects of Levitra such as stuffy nose, sneezing, and a warm feeling or redness in the face, neck, arms, and upper chest may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. While these side effects do not usually need medical attention, talk to your doctor if they become bothersome.

Severe Side Effects of Levitra

Check in with your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects while taking Levitra:

Levitra (Vardenafil) Interactions

Many medicines interact with Levitra and should be avoided if possible, including::

Dronedarone (Multaq)

Fluconazole (Diflucan)

Nelfinavir (Viracept)

Nitroglycerin (Nitro-BID, Nitro-Dur, others)

Posaconazole (Noxafil)

Isosorbide Mononitrate (Imdur, Ismo, Monoket)

If any of these medications are required, you and your doctor will need to weigh the potential risks and benefits of taking them while also taking Levitra.

Your doctor may change the dosage of one or both medicines, as well as how often you take them.

Levitra and Alcohol

When taking Levitra, you should not drink alcohol excessively. Too much alcohol can increase the risk of side effects such as headache, dizziness, and low blood pressure.

Levitra and Grapefruit

While you are using Levitra, do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. Doing so affects the way the drug is metabolized and can increase the risk of side effects.

Levitra and Other Interactions

Don"t take Levitra if you use street drugs containing nitrates, commonly known as "poppers."

Always tell your doctor about any prescription, non-prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), illegal and recreational drugs you are taking, as well as herbal remedies and nutritional and dietary supplements.

Levitra Pictures

Levitra FAQ

Q: Do you know anything about the generic Levitra that is being sold online from Canada but shipped from India? Is this product safe to use?

A: There are a lot of products coming out of India and China. They are not tested or safe for human consumption, they may contain heavy metals and or metabolites of the original compound not tested in humans. I would steer clear of them. That is exactly why we have the FDA.
Matt Curley, PharmD

Q: What is Levitra?

A: Levitra (vardenafil) is an oral medication indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. Levitra relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to specific areas of the body thereby enhancing erectile function. As a result of the mechanism of action of Levitra, sexual stimulation is required to activate the pathway by which the medication exhibits its effect in the body and to achieve a therapeutic response. Levitra has no effect in the absence of sexual stimulation.
In most patients, the usual adult starting dose of Levitra, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, is 10 mg administered approximately 60 minutes prior to sexual activity. The dose may be increased to a maximum dose of 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg based on efficacy and adverse reactions. The maximum recommended frequency of dosing and administration is once daily. Patients are advised to separate doses of Levitra by at least 24 hours. Levitra may be taken without regard to food and sexual stimulation is required for a therapeutic response to treatment. The recommended starting dose in the geriatric population, in those patients 65 years of age and older, should be 5 mg administered once daily.
The most commonly reported adverse reactions associated with Levitra include headache, flushing, stuffy or runny nose, indigestion, upset stomach or dizziness. The adverse reactions typically resolve after a few hours. Patients are advised to contact their physician if unpleasant or bothersome adverse reactions occur or if adverse reactions do not resolve. Less common side effects possible with treatment may include priapism (painful erection lasting for more than four hours which may lead to permanent damage if left untreated) or color vision changes, including seeing a blue tinge or having difficulty differentiating between blue and green. Rarely, patients taking Levitra have reported experiencing a sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes. Patients are instructed to discontinue use of Levitra and contact their physician immediately if they experience a sudden decrease or loss of vision or sudden decrease or loss of hearing.
Treatment with Levitra is contraindicated in patients currently being treated with nitrates. The concomitant use of Levitra with nitrates can cause an unsafe and sudden decrease in blood pressure and lead to dizziness, fainting, heart attack or stroke. Levitra is not intended for use in women or the pediatric population.

Q: Is it safe to use alcohol and Levitra?

A: The use of alcohol and Levitra (vardenafil) should be avoided for various reasons. Alcohol is a physical cause responsible for erectile dysfunction. In addition, according to the prescribing information, Levitra is predominantly metabolized (broken down) in the liver by hepatic enzymes. Drinking alcohol can also potentially increase certain side effects of Levitra.
During clinical trials, the use of alcohol and Levitra was evaluated and the studies revealed that levels of Levitra in the blood were not altered when administered with alcohol. When alcohol and Levitra were administered together, a 20 mg dose of Levitra did not appear to potentiate the hypotensive effects of alcohol during the observation period of 4 hours. However, these results were observed in a population of healthy volunteers involved in the study. According to the prescribing information, there were no reports from studies evaluating if it is safe to use alcohol and Levitra together in patients with erectile dysfunction.
Whether or not it is safe to use alcohol and Levitra depends on several patient specific factors, such as underlying medical conditions, and should be evaluated by a physician prior to consumption of alcohol during treatment with Levitra.

Q: Can you give me information about Levitra effectiveness?

A: There were several clinical studies conducted to demonstrate and provide information about Levitra (vardenafil) effectiveness. Levitra was evaluated in four controlled clinical trials of men ages 20 to 83. These studies evaluated three doses, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg, to determine Levitra effectiveness for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. In all four efficacy trials, Levitra demonstrated clinically important and statistically significant improvements in primary endpoints evaluating erectile function. Furthermore, these studies revealed the effectiveness of Levitra in all patient age categories and effectiveness regardless of patient race.
There are several patient subgroups that were not evaluated in clinical trials, therefore safety and effectiveness of Levitra was not established in certain populations of patients and the use of Levitra is not recommended. The use of Levitra in the following populations of patients is currently not recommended; unstable angina, hypotension (resting systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg), uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure greater than 170/110 mmHg), recent history of stroke, life-threatening arrhythmia, recent heart attack within the past 6 months, severe cardiac failure, severe hepatic (liver) impairment, end stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis, or documented hereditary degenerative retinal disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa.
Levitra is an oral prescription medication approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. Levitra has been proven to be effective in men over 18 years of age who have erectile dysfunction, including men with diabetes and in those who have undergone a prostatectomy (surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland). Levitra is effective in increasing blood flow to the penis and helping men with erectile dysfunction achieve and maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual activity. Levitra should be taken approximately one hour prior to sexual activity. Sexual stimulation is required for Levitra to be effective. Levitra may be taken without regard to meals. Levitra should be administered no more than once daily and doses should be at least 24 hours apart. The usual starting dose for Levitra is 10 mg. Doses may be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg depending on effectiveness and tolerability. Some patients may require a lower starting dose.

Q: Is there any information about Levitra and headaches?

A: During placebo-controlled clinical trials, evaluating Levitra (vardenafil), headache was the most frequently reported adverse reaction. Headache was reported by 15 percent of patients treated with Levitra. Furthermore, results from these clinical studies suggested a dose dependent effect in the incidence of some adverse reactions, specifically headache, over the three evaluated doses of Levitra, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg. These results suggest that patients taking higher doses of Levitra would be more likely to experience adverse reactions, such as headache.
Some of the other common adverse reactions, reported by greater than 2 percent of patients treated with Levitra, include flushing, rhinitis, dyspepsia, sinusitis, flu syndrome, dizziness, increased creatine kinase and nausea.
Adverse reactions associated with treatment with Levitra typically resolve within a few hours. If you experience any adverse reaction which is bothersome, or will not go away, it is important to contact your health care provider.
More serious adverse reaction, which are uncommon, may include priapism (a prolonged, painful erection lasting more than four hours which requires emergency medical attention), color vision changes (seeing a blue tinge), a sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes or a sudden loss or decrease in hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness. If a patient experiences any of these less common, but serious, adverse reactions, it is imperative to contact their physician immediately.
Levitra can cause your blood pressure to suddenly drop to an unsafe level if combined with other medications. A sudden decrease in blood pressure may cause dizziness or fainting and increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. Do not take Levitra with other medications before consulting with your health care provider.
Levitra is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men only. Levitra is not intended for use in women or the pediatric population.

About Drugs A-Z

Drugs A-Z provides drug information from Everyday Health and our partners, as well as ratings from our members, all in one place. Cerner Multum™ provides the data within some of the Basics, Side Effects, Interactions, and Dosage tabs. The information within the Reviews and FAQ tabs is proprietary to Everyday Health.

You can browse Drugs A-Z for a specific prescription or over-the-counter drug or look up drugs based on your specific condition. This information is for educational purposes only, and not meant to provide medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Remember to always consult your physician or health care provider before starting, stopping, or altering a treatment or health care regimen.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by on this page is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. The information on this page has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore neither Everyday Health or its licensor warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Neither Everyday Health nor its licensors endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. The drug information above is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Neither Everyday Health nor its licensor assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of the information provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have any questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about
your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of
interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make
choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here.